CoDAteen FAQ

What is CoDAteen?

CoDAteen is part of Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) and offers a welcoming space for young people who want to develop healthier and more loving relationships.

CoDAteen is generally for teenagers aged 13 to 18. Individual CoDAteen groups may choose a slightly different age range to suit the young people they support, so it is always worth checking the details of a particular meeting..

CoDAteen Meetings

CoDAteen meetings give young people a safe and supportive space to explore healthier relationships with themselves and others.

By listening to and sharing with other young people who may have experienced similar feelings or difficulties, members can discover that they are not alone and learn new ways of relating to themselves and the people around them.

CoDAteen follows the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Co-Dependents Anonymous. Members may also explore spirituality in whatever way feels meaningful to them, including the idea of a Higher Power of their own understanding.

Meeting Structure

Every CoDAteen meeting is supported by an adult CoDA group or service body.

Approved adult hosts are there to help provide a safe and supportive environment while young people take part in and help run their own meeting. The supporting CoDA group can also help with practical matters such as finding suitable adult hosts, organising events and supporting the meeting financially where needed.

Adults involved with CoDAteen must meet CoDAteen’s safety requirements, as well as any relevant UK requirements for working with young people.

The Role of Adults*

Adult hosts help provide a safe and supportive environment where young people can share with one another and take part in the meeting.

They support the group as a whole rather than acting as personal sponsors to individual members. If necessary, they may step in to address behaviour that is unsafe, inappropriate or disruptive.

Training Resources for Adult Hosts

Adults who support CoDAteen meetings prepare for the role using guidance and resources in the CoDAteen Meeting Handbook.

Supporting CoDA groups or service bodies may also provide workshops, reading materials and other training to help adult hosts understand their responsibilities and support young people safely and appropriately.

Behaviour and Safety Requirements

Every CoDAteen adult host involved with CoDAteen service must:

Be a CoDA member regularly attending CoDA meetings who has a CoDA sponsor or CoDA co-sponsor and is working the CoDA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions according to the CoDA programme of recovery.
Be at least 25 years old with a minimum of three years of recovery in CoDA and have participated in CoDA service work.
Not have been convicted of a felony or equivalent criminal charges internationally.
Not have been charged with any form of child abuse.
Not have been charged with, or demonstrated, any inappropriate sexual behaviour or be named on any sex offender list.
Demonstrate emotional stability and sobriety.
Remain free from mind-altering substances during meetings and service work.
Not have demonstrated violent tendencies or coercive abuse that could harm a CoDAteen member.
There must be two vetted CoDA adult hosts at every CoDAteen meeting, but if this is not possible, one vetted adult host who is approved and sponsored by a CoDA group and meets all other requirements may be acceptable.
The group requirements must prohibit overt or covert sexual interaction between any adult and CoDAteen members.
The group requirements must prohibit conduct contrary to applicable laws. Local legal requirements should also be researched.
The group requirements must contain procedures which include a Parental Permission Letter and medical care for the CoDAteen to participate when necessary. In some circumstances, it might be possible to accept a referral from a counsellor, teacher or doctor. See the sample Guardian Approval Form / Parental Permission Letter.
The CoDA adult sponsoring group and CoDAteen Committee share responsibility for adopting a process to train and vet adult hosts using recommendations and resources from the CoDAteen Meeting Handbook.
Adopt a process for addressing problem behaviours within the CoDAteen group, using recommendations and resources from the CoDAteen Meeting Handbook and other resources at CoDA.org/CoDAteen.

Contact Information

For general queries about CoDAteen reach out to the CoDAteen meeting host.